Christ & Culture in Canada
Our Own Worst Media Enemies
By John G. Stackhouse Jr.
Christians should not complain about bad news coverage if our church
leaders aren’t willing to make themselves available to local media
Religious people in Canada complain about if you prefer, we could talk briefly on the phone tonight or
how the mass media treat religion. It doesn’t early tomorrow. This large feature has to be completely
matter if you’re Sikh or Buddhist, Muslim or finished by noon tomorrow.
Christian – we’re all unhappy about stories that Sorry to burden you at this last minute. Thanks.
stereotype our traditions and focus on the I helped with the story, which was pub-
Journalists
wildest and least representative members of lished in due course. But I followed up with
are glad for us
our communities. the reporter later and asked more about the
Evangelicals in particular often complain problems trying to contact those pastors in big
to suggest ideas
– and we have good reason to do so, accord- evangelical churches. Here’s the reply:
but they mainly
ing to Wilfrid Laurier University scholar Sometimes I wonder if the problem is the
come to us
David Haskell. In his new book Through a receptionists – or maybe church policies. I
when they think
Lens Darkly: How the News Media Perceive didn’t get any sense they were really helping
they have a
and Portray Evangelicals (Clements, 2009), me to contact the senior pastors. Everyone
story already
Haskell shows that, when the values of Evan- was in “meetings” that couldn’t be inter-
gelicals clash with the values reporters believe rupted. So I’m left to leave voice messages
are “mainstream Canadian,” journalistic integrity is often that may or may not get picked up.
sacrificed to make sure the “moral of the story” comes out Seemed like avoidance of the secular media was going
“right.” on. And you know the consequences of that – even when I
I’ve had enough experience with Canadian journalists emphasized it was pretty well a “good news story.”
to nod my head sympathetically. It is often very difficult Well, we do know the consequences of that. We com-
to get Canadian journalists even to understand, let alone plain about it all the time. But while Haskell’s evidence
sympathize with, an evangelical point of view on contro- shows that some of the problem is with the media, some
versial matters. of the problem also stares back from the mirror.
I will leave Haskell to make his case, however, since he Yes, it was Holy Week and pastors were busy. Guess
makes it very well. Today I want to offer a complementary what: the other time of year when reporters want to talk
point: we Evangelicals, we Christians, we religious people with pastors is Advent when pastors are busy.
are often our own worst media enemies. Journalists rarely come to us when we think we have
Here is a lightly edited version of an email I received a story – although most of them are glad for us to suggest
from an oft-honoured Canadian religion reporter on the ideas. They come to us when they think they have a story
Tuesday before Easter: already. And Christmas and Easter are still occasions in
A couple of evangelical pastors I wanted to speak to Canada for Christian stories to be told.
have not come through by my deadline, and I am down I don’t understand why pastors who pride themselves
to the wire. on being able to preach well to seekers can’t speak well to
Would you like to respond to a few questions about journalists. I particularly don’t understand why churches
what Christians, and particularly Evangelicals, are doing anxious to connect with their communities at Christmas
to engage, retain and bring in new members in this day and Easter won’t make it a high priority to connect with
and age? the mass media of those communities.
I know some evangelical churches are doing really well So get ready.
but, in general, what are your thoughts on how evangelicals And, please, answer the phone.
in Canada are engaging the wider “secular” culture, bringing in new people, making their viewpoints attractive to
non-Christians – that kind of thing?
Even a few paragraphs from you would be helpful. Or,
John Stackhouse teaches on theology and culture at Regent College, Vancouver. His latest book is a second edition of Can God Be
Trusted? Faith and the Challenge of Evil (InterVarsity, 2009).
